Personal Development

What is Personal Development?

Personal Development aims to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at school; and prepares our pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

The Personal Development curriculum incorporates:

Citizenship education

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHEE)

Careers and Employability education

Relationships and Sex education

Religious education (at KS4)

Personal Development is concerned with personal value systems, attitudes and behaviour. The curriculum provides the information and skills to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own actions, develop self-awareness and build a positive self-image in order to effectively cope with the demands of modern life. It aims to promote personal, social and moral responsibility and to develop the ability to use information to make clear and skilled choices in regard to decision-making, communication and relationships. Personal Development supports the development of the knowledge, skills and understanding students need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, and responsible citizens.

Personal Development is delivered throughout Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8) and Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 and 11). All students in KS3 and KS4 have two one hour lessons per fortnight. The Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13) Enrichment Programme incorporates issues within Personal Development.

What do we study in Personal Development lessons in 2018-19?

During 2018-19 we are transitioning to a new curriculum structure. For this year only some units will be taught in multiple year groups to enhance development of political, social and economic literacy. Careers and Employability is always taught in every year group.

Key Stage 3

Year 7:

The Misbourne Way – Introduction to the Misbourne

Parliament and Democracy

British Values

Careers and Employability

Year 8:

Parliament and Democracy

Healthy Living

Politics and Elections

Media in the 21st Century

Careers and Employability

Key Stage 4

Year 9:

Politics and Elections

Families, Friends and Relationships

Conflict and Controversy

Careers and Employability

Year 10:

Religion and Identity

Careers and Employability

Law and Order

The Economy and Managing Money

Year 11:

Ultimate Questions

Careers and Employability

The Economy and Managing Money

Developing and Assessing Oracy

‘Oracy has been undervalued and overlooked within state schools for too long, denying the majority of children and young people opportunities consistently afforded to an advantaged few. It’s time for change’

Voice 21
www.voice21.org

In Personal Development students do not sit an external examination in Year 11; this gives us an opportunity to focus on the development of skills necessary for success in adult life.

In 2018-19 we have launched an oracy programme designed to develop students’ ability to communicate effectively using spoken language. This approach incorporates Voice 21’s Four Strands of Oracy and ensures that students have the opportunity to receive specific training of how to speak effectively in front of an audience and to receive feedback on the quality of their oracy, clearly identifying areas for development.

During the course of the academic year, students will prepare and deliver two presentations to their peers, with a focus on social issues (Citizenship themes). Preparation for these presentations will take place in class and for homework with all presentations being held in lesson time with teacher and peer feedback provided.